Financial Aid Services

What is financial aid?

Financial Aid provides financial assistance in the form of grants, scholarships, federal work-study and federal loans and comes from many sources, including federal and state government, private organizations, and Oregon State University’s institutional funds.

Grants are based on your financial need and often called “gift aid” because it does not need to be repaid unless, for example, you withdraw from school before finishing a term.

Scholarships are money awarded to you based on academic or other achievements to help pay for your educational expenses and do not have to be repaid as long as the scholarship requirements, if any, are met each term and/or academic year.

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a federal student aid program that provides part-time employment while the student is enrolled in school to help pay educational expenses.

Federal loans are money you borrow and must be paid back with interest.